Handle-shield



(No Modell.)

W. E. DE WITT. HANDLE SHIELD.

No. 600,637.. PatentedMar. 15, 1898.

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i dSTATES PATENT OFFICE. l

WILLIAM E. DE WITT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HANDLE-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,63*?, dated March 15, 1898.

Application filed January 23, 1897. Serial No. 620,422. (No model.)

To all whom it may oon/cern,.-

Be it known that l, WILLIAM E. DE WITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handle or Grip Shields, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to shields for handles or grips for protecting the hands from the cold or other disagreeable influences while riding and steering vehicles, cbc., but is more espeoially adapted for use on velocipedes, where the hands of the rider are necessarily in a position of exposure to not only the natural winds, but to the force of the penetrating currents induced by the velocity of the machine, a feature of winter riding which has heretofore rendered it undesirable.

The primary object of my invention, therefore, is to provide ashield for handles or grips which shall be capable of substantially protecting the hand while grasping the grip without interfering with the natural and necessary movements of the hand or wrist while mounting, riding, or dismounting.

Another object of my invention is to provide a grip-shield which shall be universally adapted to all styles and positions of handlebars; and a still further object of my invention is to render the grip-shield adjustable while riding to suit the varying positions of the grips.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofv novelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain other objects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of a velocipede handle-bar equipped with my improved grip-shields. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the gripshields, showing it applied to the end of the handle-bar. Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view, on an envthe ordinary manner with a common form of grip 2, around which my improved shield is located in such a manner, as shown in Fig. l, as to protect the hands of the rider from the wind andJ cold while at the same4 time permitting of the free and natural movements of the hands and wrists. In order to accomplish this, the shield is secured to the grip or to the handle-bar in any suitable manner, but preferably by the means which I shall preferably describe, and the shield is so constructed as to'yield to the pressure of thevwrist or hand in any direction, While at the same time retaining its form and `being capable of automatically returning to its normal position with relation to the grip, so as to always be in position to receive the hand of the rider without hampering the rider when attempting to seize the grip. To this end the shield preferably consists of two substantially rigid portions connected together by a flexible or yielding portion, and one of which rigid portions is suitably attached to the handle-bar or to the grip, while the other is supported in the proper position by the yielding or ilexible portion; and in order that the shield may be elongated longitudinally of the grip, so as to be adapted to various sizes of hands or to suit the taste of the rider as regards the extent to which he desires his hand covered, the one of said rigid portions which is connected to the handle-bar or to the grip is telescopic or extensible. sists of a cup-shape portion 3, which may be of any desirable form, but which is preferably cylindrical, and a surrounding band or collar 4, which is split at 5, so as to be capable of compression upon the cup 3 by means of a tightening-screw 6,passing through a pair of ears 7, arranged onelon each side of the slit 5, whereby the collar 4 may be telel scoped over the cup 3 and securely held in The latter con- IOO v place by the screw 6 at the desired adjustment, the cup 3 being provided with a milled rim 8 to facilitate its adjustment with relation to the collar 4 when the shield is not on the handle-b ar.

The collar 4 is provided at its rear end with a iiange or daring enlargement 9, around the inner side of which is secured one edge of an envelop 10, composed of leather or any other suitable flexible material, whose other edge is secured in any suitable manner to the forward edge of a collar or band 11, which constitutes the second'one of said rigid melnbers hereinbefore referred to, while the envelop 10 constitutes the iiexible portion connecting the said rigid member 1l with the other rigid member composed of the collar 4 and cup 3. The edges of the envelop 10 may be secured to the edges of the portions 9 11, as described, in any of the well-known ways-such, for instance, as cementing.

Located within the envelop 10 is a coilspring 12, whose ends are connected to the portions 9 and 1l, respectively, in such a manner as to hold the envelop 10 distended and the portion 11 extended and in its normal and lproper position with relation to the grip 2. This connection between the spring 12 and the portions 9 11 may be effected by means of loops 13, which surround the last convolution at-each end of the spring and are secured to the portions 9 and ll, respectively,loy means of rivets 14 15, and any desired number of` such loops may bel employed. By this means it will be seen that even though the forward end of the shield constituted by the cup 3 and collar 4 be rigidly secured to the handle-bar the cuff or gauntlet constituted by the band 11 and envelop 10 may, nevertheless, yield to permit of the necessary movements of the hand and wrist while mounting, riding, and

dismounting; but to the end that the band 1l may not chate the wrist of the rider on the inner side, Where the wrist turns off at a sharp angle to the grip, I prefer to cut away the opposed inner edges of the bands 11, as shown at 16, the shield on each grip being turned when securing it in place to adjust each of such cut-away portions 16 to suit the position l In order of the wrist of the particular rider. that' either side of the band 11 may be still further tilted or turned, so as to avoid conwith a series of buttonholes 18, either of which is adapted to be slipped over a button 19, preferably formed on and constituting a part of each of the rivets 15, that hold the other set of loops 13. By this means it will be seen that the band 1l may be turned or tilted still farther toward the rider by shortening up the strap 17 on the inner side, or it may be tilted These straps 17 are each l outwardly or away from the rider or upwardly or downwardly, as desired, by tightening up one or the other or both of the outside straps 17. tire gauntlet may be shortened up with reference to the collar 4 by tightening up all of the straps 17 equally.

The spring 12 is preferably provided at suitable intervals with stays 20, consisting of tapes stitched around their convolutions, so as to prevent undue extension of the spring, and the portions 9 10 11 are preferably lined with felt, wool, cloth, or any other suitable Isubstance 21, which may be cemented or otherwise secured to the portions 9 11 and, if desired, stitched to the tapes 20.

It is desirable that the joint or attachment between the grip-shield thus constructed and the handle-bar or grip be of a universal char'- acter, so that the shield may be set at any angle with reference to the handle-bar or turned to any position to suit the convenience of the rider, and so that,further, when desired, the entire shield may be allowed freedom of movement with the hand of the rider irrespective of the position of the grip. To this end I employ a ball-and-socket joint for making such connection or attachment, and such joint preferably consists of a ball or spheroidal portion 22, secured to the grip or to the handle-bar, and a socket composed of a concave ring 23, formed on or otherwise secured to the cup 3 and fitting one side of the ball, and a split or divided ring composed of two members 24, having concave flanges 25 fitting the other side of the ball 22, so that when the ballis seated in the ring 23, as shown in Fig. v

4, and the members 24 are brought together on the other side the shield will be attached to the handle-bar and its freedom of movement with relation thereto will be dependent upon the degree of friction between the rings 23 25 and the ball 22. The members 24 are pivoted at 26 to the end of the cup 3, lwhile their other ends are provided, respectively, with a screw 27 and a threaded lug 28, into which said screw engages, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and whereby the ring 25 may be securely tightened around the ball 22. For the sake of greater security the end of the cup 3 is provided with a block 29, whose edges are undercut, as shown in Fig. 4 and in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and which is secured to the cup 3 by rivets 30, and the ends of the members 24 are slotted, as shown at 31, so as to t together between the flanged block 29 and the end of the cup 3.

The ball 22 might of course be permanently secured or formed on the handle-bar proper, l; but in order that the shield may be applied to any form of handle-bar now in use such ball is preferably formed onasleeve 32, which may be inserted into the grip 2 and cemented or otherwise secured therein or not and then inserted over the end of the handle-bar and secured by any well-known means, as shown in Fig. 4.

It is also evident that, if desired, the en- IOO IIO

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is Y 1. The combination with a handle or grip, of a shield inclosing the same and having ball-and-socket connection therewith, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a handle or grip, of a shield inclosing the same and having a universal-joint connection therewith, and means for tightening said joint to prevent independent movement of the shield, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a ball adapted t0 be secured to the handle or grip, of a gripshield having a divided socket adapted to en` compass said ball, substantially as set forth.

4f. A grip-shield having in combination a rigid portion adapted to be secured to the handle or grip and a rigid gauntlet portion yieldingly attached to said rst portion, substantially as set forth.

5. A grip-shield having in combination a portion adapted to be secured to the handle or grip, a gauntlet portion yieldingly attached to said first portion and means for holding said gauntlet portion at various adjustments with relation to said first portion, substantially as set forth.

6. A grip-shield having in combination a portion adapted to be secured to the handle or grip, and an extensible gauntlet portion for surrounding the hand or wrist, substantially as set forth.

v7. A grip-shield having in combination a portion adapted to be secured to the handle or grip and a gauntlet portion having a yielding elastic portion secured to said first portion and means for holding said gauntlet portion at various adjustments with relation to said iirst portion, substantially as set forth.

8. A grip-shield having in combination a telescopic member adapted to be secured to the handle or grip, and a yielding portion secured thereto for surrounding the hands, substantially as set forth.

9. A grip-shield having in combination a portion adapted to be secured to the handle or grip, a gauntlet having a yielding envelop secured to said portion and adapted to surround the grip, and a spring located within said envelop for holding it distended and extended, substantially as set forth.

10. A grip-shield having in combination a portion adapted to be secured to the handle or grip, a gauntlet having a yielding envelop secured to said portion, a spring located in said envelop for holding it extended and distended, and means for holding said spring compressed, substantially as set forth.

l1. A grip-shield having in combination a portion adapted to be secured to the handle or grip, a spring-coil secured to said portion, a yielding envelop surrounding said spring, a band attached to said spring and envelop and adapted to surround the hand or wrist of the rider, the loops 13, the rivets 14 15 attaching said loops to said band and first said portion, the straps 17 having buttonholes and the buttons 19, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. A grip-shield having in combination a ball adapted to be secured to the handle or grip, a portion adapted to surround the hand of the rider and said grip and being provided with the concave ring 23 iitting one side of said ball, a divided ring fitting the other side of said ball and means for securing the divisions of said divided ring together, substantially as set forth.

13. A grip-shield having in combination a ball adapted to be secured to the handle or grip, a cup-like portion adapted to surround said grip and being provided with an opening having the ring 23, the members 24 pivoted to said cup-like portion and having the concave divided ring 25 adapted to fit said ball, and means for securing the ends of said members together and also to the face of said cuplike portion, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with a sleeve having a spheroidal portion formed thereon and adapted to be fitted over a handle, and a gripshield having a socket embracing said spheroidal portion, substantially as set forth.

wM. E. DE WITT.

Witnesses:

F. A. HOPKINS, EDNA B. JOHNSON. 

